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Sunday, April 26, 2020
Oil and Energy Essay Sample free essay sample
The United States has heralded around the Earth for its unbelievable economic system. The growing of the United States started off little with minor finds and innovations. such as oil and electricity. and with those in topographic point outgrowth of new engineerings and inventions came underway. The railwaies came approximately really easy and became really popular. A adult male named Henry Bessemer came up with a manner to do steel cheaply and expeditiously. Key concern barons. such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. cashed in on the demand for steel and oil. began their ain houses. and subsequently worked on a domination in their ain country of commercialism. In 1870. John D. Rockefeller organized The Standard Oil Company along with his brother William. Andrews. Henry M. Flagler. S. V. Harkness. and others. It had a capital of $ 1 million. Before long. the companyââ¬â¢s production soared from 2000 barrels a twelvemonth in 1859 to about 5 million ten old ages subsequentl y. We will write a custom essay sample on Oil and Energy Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He was successful. though it took longer than expected. so others were attracted to the country. and several came to unearth the oil. Economic cooperation and outside assistance brought steady growing in the economic systems of the western states like the United States ( Carter and Herz. 1961 ) . The chief beginning for this oil was the Arab states. like Iraq. which had the largest oil militias in the universe ( Clark. 2002 ) . In the Chapter 7 ofEnergyPoliticss. authored by David Howard Davis. he presents a basically valuable analysis of the national security policy of the United States and other oil-dependent and oil-producing states in the worldwhich is one that ought to be realized by American security experts ( 1982 ) . The importance of oil in fueling the growing of industry was felt in the fiftiess. As the industries were revived following the desolation wrought by the Second World War. oil ingestion in western states increased. The Arab states of all time since have legion hundred companies occupied in diversified fabrication. Heavy-manufacturing mills. using natural stuffs preponderantly brought in from the Middle East and offshore. consist of an oil refinery that generates an mixture of crude oil merchandises and chemical compounds. a steel factory fabricating reenforcing bars. a figure of cement workss. a concrete-pipe works. and an aluminum-extrusion works. Heavy fabrication is found in the major industrial centres in the Middle East. During the 1950s. the stockpiling of atomic arms began to be an of import component in the tensenesss between the USSR and the United States. Each state tried to develop arms so powerful that the other would non make bold to assail. This policy of detering an onslaught by doing oneââ¬â¢s opposing fright countermove has spurred the development of faraway silent. volatile arms during the Cold War ( Clark. 2002 ) . New types of arms were developed by the world powers as the weaponries race went on. In 1952. the United States exploded the first H bomb ; the undermentioned twelvemonth. the Soviet Union besides tested a H bomb. Both developed projectiles that carried atomic payloads. In 1954. the United States launched the first atomic pigboat. armed with atomic missiles. By 1957. the Soviets had developed intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) rockets that could make marks in any portion of universe ( Berkowitz. 1995 ) . The development and spread of atomic arms and orbiters had introduced a new component in the cold war. Accusations of descrying undermined the pacts that tried to acquire mediate exchange of hostile actions. In May of 1960. an angry Nikita Khrushchev announced that Soviet missiles had shot down an American plane of a type called U-2. Equipped with a assortment of cameras and entering devices. the plane had been taking exposure near a major industrial country in the Ural Mountains ( Berkowitz. 1995 ) . American intelligence flights over Cuba had besides found grounds of establishing sites for atomic missiles. Alarmed at the presence of Soviet projectiles merely 90 stat mis from the United States. President John F. Kennedy went on telecasting and demanded that the Soviet Union take them instantly. He announced that American ships were heading toward Cuba to Soviet ships from presenting any more missiles. After a tense few hours. Khrushchev agreed to take the arms from Cuba ( Oakes. 1994 ) . The Cuban missile crisis had alerted leaders to the possibility that cold war tensenesss could trip armed struggle. Western and Soviet leaders began to look for ways to decrease the hazard. A major measure was taken in 1963. when Britain. the United States. and the Soviet Union signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The three powers agreed to halt proving atomic arms in the air. in infinite. and under H2O. To maintain atomic proving from distributing to more states. the United States. Britain. the Soviet Union. and many other states signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 1968. Under its footings. the states that did non hold atomic arms agreed non to develop them. The states that already had atomic capacity promised that they would advance research to happen peaceable utilizations of atomic energy ( Gaddis. et Al. . 1999 ) . By the seventiess. the superpowersââ¬â¢ place in universe personal businesss had changed. partially because of displacements in attitude toward their Alliess. Some NATO members expressed concern about the allianceââ¬â¢s heavy dependance on atomic arms. Others were worried that Western Europe might go the battlefield for a atomic war. Still others were uneasy because the atomic arms in Western Europe could be used merely with American blessing. They were non certain Americans would be willing to support Western Europe at the hazard of Soviet onslaught on the United States ( Garthoff. 1994 ) . Davis besides notes that every bit good. oil became an drift for the geographic expedition for and development of alternate energy beginnings like atomic energy ( Hanson. 1996 ) . The importance of oil in fueling the growing of industry was felt in the 1950s during the Cold War. As the industries were revived following the desolation wrought by the Second World War. oil ingestion in western states increased during the Cold War ( Klare. 2005 ) . During this clip. says Davis. American leaders had preferred to ââ¬Å"securitizeâ⬠oil. That is. to project its continued handiness as a affair of national security. and therefore something that can be safeguarded through the usage of military force. By 1980. about 70 % of oil supply used by western states came from West Asia ( Light. 2002 ) . Inevitably portion of their international dealingss. the United States. for one. depended on imported oil to run their mills and transit systems and heat their places. However. oil is non unlimited. Like any other resource. it is limited in measure. While it is responsible for the growing of many Arab states. it is besides the beginning of wrangle and struggle in the international scene. The oil arm was used by Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) against states sympathetic to Israel. Because of the oil trade stoppage. the oil monetary values rose up to more than 100 % of the old monetary value. Rising oil monetary values hurt about all the industrial states. One of the lessons that could be learned from this monopolistic dealingss is the Arab-Israeli struggle that was complicated by the engagement of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Middle East. Both as a beginning of oil and as a strategic location. the part was critically of import in the competition between the two world powers. Adopting a pro-Arab base. the Soviet Union supplied some Arab states with arms. military preparation. proficient aid and fiscal assistance. The United States. which had continued to endorse Israel. besides sought to battle Soviet influence in the Arab universe. It strengthened ties with Egypt. Jordan. and Saudi Arabia and pressed for a negotiated solution to the Arab-Israeli struggle. The invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces in 1991 stemmed from the desire of Saddam Hussein to annex the rich Kuwaiti oil Fieldss. While his aspiration was thwarted by a joint military force led by the United States and its Alliess. the incident could be a preliminary to what could go on in the hereafter once the oil supply in some Arab states reach a critical deficit degree. Gradually. other states are turning to the usage of atomic power as an alternate energy beginning ( Clark. 2002 ) . The development of atomic energy is both a blessing and a curse to civilisation. It is a blessing when 1 considers how western states have bit by bit reduced their dependance on oil some by every bit much as 40 % of their entire energy demands. North Korea. nevertheless. besides believed to be capable of constructing a atomic bomb. Its refusal to let itself to be inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency has spawned frights that North Korea has so developed the bomb. For its portion. North Korea frights aggression by the United States and South Korean forces. which are regularly carry oning war exercisings every twelvemonth. Indeed. the universe is non in the slightest peaceful. but at present. there is no security issue taking halfway phase and the state of affairs in Al-Qaââ¬â¢ida is no exclusion. Al-Qaââ¬â¢ida is a terrorist party that shores up the programs and actions of Muslim Rebels across the Earth. Its instigator and main foreman is a millionaire Arabian indigen more popularly known as Osama bin Laden. Davis likewise contends that U. S. military and foreign policies have been increasingly maneuvered by the demand to vouch firm entree to abroad oil. more than of all time in the Middle East. and that as American imported oil dependance carries on to ironically beef up our industries and struggle with some British-dependent Arab states. the American forces will of all time more find themselves engaging war to guard oil-producing zones and supply paths ( Davis. 1982 ) . He besides considered that the development of atomic energy is both a blessing and a curse to civilisation. It is a blessing when 1 considers how western states have bit by bit reduced their dependance on oil some by every bit much as 40 % of their entire energy demands. Through the book. Davis carries out a constructive public service by puting premium upon the national security costs of Americaââ¬â¢s trust on foreign oil ; costs that have often gone overlooked. Central to the thought of the book is how American leaders have preferred to ââ¬Å"securitizeâ⬠oil while continuing healthy international dealingss. In Davisââ¬â¢s words. ââ¬Å"to cast its continued handiness as a affair of ââ¬Ënational security. ââ¬â¢ and therefore something that can be safeguarded through the usage of military forceâ⬠( Davis. 1982 ) . The U. S. military and foreign policies have been increasingly maneuvered by the demand to vouch firm entree to abroad oil. more than of all time in the Middle East. and that as American imported oil dependance carries on to ironically beef up our industries and struggle with some British-dependent Arab states. the American forces will of all time more find themselves engaging war to guard oil-producing zones and supply paths. No inquiry about it ; the 9/11 incident was the beginning of hypertrophied belligerencies and watchfulness every bit good. Security demands have turned our state into a constabulary province. As the oil supply grew. the United States widened contacts with the Arab states. It sought to keep a finely balanced policy in the Middle East. While keeping its ties with Israel. the United States besides tried to stay friendly with the Arab states. The usage and betterment of 10s of 1000s of stuffs in all signifier of industry have made for better criterions of life and much more leisure clip during the industrial period. When such betterments serendipitously came up in the modern epoch. most would hold. nevertheless. that such colossal technological promotions do non come without a monetary value. To Davis. modern warfare had become an flagitious branch of the globalized production of energy. Sophisticated arms engineering. like chemical and biological arms. has provided the agencies for mass devastation of life and belongings ; instantaneous communicating and broad airing of information of all sorts have bound intercontinental peoples together but at one fell slide. hold besides brought with them less privateness ; the great usage and maltreatment of natural resources has wrought severe menaces to the environment and human civilisation ; and the relatively frantic gait of human being may finally name into inquiry many of the benefits of high engineering that mostly ripened when descrying orbiters started come uping and atomic pigboats began suppressing the seven oceans of the universe. all transpired when every world power was busy combating the new wars under ââ¬Å"hushedâ⬠but tactically noxious conditions ( Berkowitz. 1995 ) . Furthermore. Davis besides expounds that coal. crude oil or oil. and natural gas have been and still are the preferable beginnings of energy for place and industrial usage. These are the fossil fuels. which were formed by partial decomposition of and force per unit area of the Earth on the remains of workss and animate beings that lived 1000000s of old ages ago. Petroleum is used as the get downing stuff for gasolene and for many industrial merchandises. such as plastic. man-made fibres. and drugs. However. the West Virginiaââ¬â¢s coal industry becomes one of the biggest indirect subscribers to the countryââ¬â¢s clime alteration ( Ambler and Summers. 1958 ) . The energy industry argues in Davisââ¬â¢ book that excavation is supplying huge addition for the mountain-bound state by crafting level sites to developed commercialism to this destitute part. However. two per centum of these countries have been utilized for any advancement. While most of the United States depends on the West Virginiaââ¬â¢s coal industry as a beginning of energy. there are beginnings of energy that are comparatively non-polluting and should hold been utilized a long clip ago. Adds Davis. solar energy. which does non add extra heat to the ambiance. can be collected by solar panels placed on rooftops. Photovoltaic ( solar ) cells produce electricity straight from sunshine. Falling H2O is used to bring forth electricity in the hydroelectric workss. Geothermal energy is derived from the heat of magma in the earthââ¬â¢s nucleus. Water. converted to steam by this heat. may be pumped up and used to heat edifices or to bring forth electricity. Wind power provides ad equate force to turn vanes. blades. or propellors attached to shafts which. in bend. spin generator motors that produce electricity ( Ambler and Summers. 1958 ) . The competitions between East and West went beyond a battle for political power to competition for prestigiousness and leading in such Fieldss as scientific discipline and engineering. Technology is seen as a ruling force over society. presenting a menace to human freedom. Today. colonialism has been brought to a whole new degree. With the universe condensed by globalisation. things have been restlessly clashing in the air. in infinite. and under H2O. To this day of the month. Davis affirms that America is providing Israel with modern arms and shipped weaponries and gave considerable economic assistance to some Arab lands. Indeed. though throughout the Middle East. old struggles spurred new 1s as hostile dealingss persisted. the world powers like the United States. with critical involvements in the part. carefully supervise all developments and at times intervene merely for the interest of the dry nutriment of oil dependance and national security ( Davis. 1982 ) . Mentions Ambler. Charles H. and Festus P. Summers. ( 1958 ) .West Virginia. the Mountain State. Prentice-Hall. Berkowitz. Bruce D. ( 1995 ) . ââ¬Å"Warfare in the Information Age. â⬠Issues in Science andTechnology. Vol. 12. Carter. Gwendolen M. . and John H. Herz. ( 1961 ) .Government and Politics in the Twentieth Century. Praeger. Clark. Wesley K. ( 2002 ) .Engaging Modern War. The Perseus Books Group. Davis. David Howard. ( 1982 ) .Energy Politicss. St. Martin. Gaddis. John Lewis. Philip H. Gordon. Ernest R. May. and Jonathan Rosenberg. ( 1999 ) .Cold War Statesmen Confront the Bomb: Nuclear Diplomacy since 1945. Oxford University Press. Garthoff. Raymond L. ( 1994 ) .The Great Passage: American-Soviet Relationss and the End of the Cold War. Brookings Institution. Hanson. Jim. ( 1996 ) .The Following Cold War? American Alternatives for the Twenty-first Century. Praeger Publishers. Klare. Michael T. ( 2005 ) .Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of Americaââ¬â¢s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum ( The American Empire Project ). Metropolitan Books. Light. Gail R. ( June 20. 2002 ) . ââ¬Å"Security vs. Liberty: weighing the options. â⬠Accessed January 23. 2007. Available: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. msutoday. msu. edu/research/index. php3? article=20Jun2002-9 Oakes. Guy. ( 1994 ) .The Imaginary War: Civil Defense and American Cold War Culture. Oxford University Press.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
The eNotes Blog How To Be Successful at a LargeUniversity
How To Be Successful at a LargeUniversity Success: The accomplishment of an aim or purpose (Merriam-Webster). à Success is what every person should strive to reach every day. à It is the backbone and motivator for all of our wants and needs. à Achieving success in college requires hard work and a little bit of knowledge about how to beat the system. à The university system differs from high school in a plethora of ways. à You dont have the same classes every day, there are up to 500 students in your classes, there is no mandatory attendance, and your grade can be based on your performance on one or two tests. à If you just graduated from high school and are about to begin college, or are already in college and have a newfound resolve for success, read on to discover how to be successful at a large university. 1. Define your success. à What are you looking to get out of college? à Is this just the next step in your educational journey? à Do you plan on using it as a stepping stone to a particular job or graduate program? à Do you just want to have fun?à Knowing what you want to get out of college before you begin is important. à Perhaps you want to make a difference on campus and run for a position on student government. à If you want a strong sense of fulfillment, giving back to the community and volunteering can get you there. à I was recruited at UCLA to play baseball, so my goal was to be as successful as I could in the classroom and on the field. 2. Plan. à Where are you going after college? à This can have a tremendous impact on your collegiate educational journey. à If you plan on attending some form of post-undergraduate education, you will need to get top marks in order to be accepted into a quality program. à If you have a specific job or career path in mind, apply to a major that will help get you there. à If you arent sure what you want to do, sample a wide variety of electives and general education classes. à Communications and English degrees are highly valuable degrees that appeal to employers because they accentuate your written and verbal skills. à I had no idea what I wanted to do after college, so after my freshman year I applied as a communication studies major because of the fascinating classes and competitiveness of the program. 3. Do your research. à Think of the phrase, work smart, not hard. à Although you will probably have to do both. à Find classes that interest you. à Read the course descriptions from your schools registrar. à Talk to other students and use websites such as ratemyprofessors.com to discover what your potential professors are like. à If a high GPA is more important to you, sign up for the easy classes. à I always tried to find manageable classes that had stimulating enough subject material to keep me wanting more. 4. Show up. à No, attendance is not mandatory at large universities. à You will have huge classes in a giant auditorium and the professor and TAs will never know if you dont show up. à But if you care about getting something out of your education and earning a good grade, then spending the couple hours per week in that class is the best way to learn. à It gets you outside and in contact with your friends as well. à Dont rely on Powerpoints or Podcasts from home. à Youre likely to procrastinate on reviewing them, and they arent as affective. à Its also important to know the classes that youà mustà show up for, and recognize those that you can skip every once in a while when necessary. 5. Make a good first impression. à Be aware of the power of first impressions, and realize that your first interaction with a professor or TA can be impactful in the lasting conclusions they draw about you. à Although professors try to grade tests and assignments objectively, there is no doubt that at least sometimes they give preferential treatment to students they like. à Could you really blame them if they were stricter on a student who was constantly late, didnt participate, and didnt pay attention? à So dress nicely, sit in the front of class, participate during discussion, know what youre talking about, and perhaps even visit their office hours to talk about the class and their research. à People like to talk about themselves. 6. Focus. à Dont go to lecture just to go to lecture. à If youre going to sleep, talk to friends on Facebook, or play internet games, just stay at home. à You wont get anything out of class, and you wont do as well at playing Bloons Tower Defense (my favorite game to play in class) or whatever youre doing. à When class is over, go home and review your notes for ten minutes. à The material will be fresh on your mind, and looking it over again will solidify your understanding of important concepts. à I always viewed this as time spent studying for midterms and finals way in advance. à If you spent ten minutes reviewing your notes twice a week for ten weeks, you have already studied over three hours for your final, and probably only need to study two or three more hours to be adequately prepared. à This step is the key to academic achievement. 7. à Get the easy credit. à Know the grading rubric for each of your classes. à If attendance is 10% of your grade, you better show up and get all of that 10%. à If easy homework assignments make up any portion of your grade, be organized enough to turn in every one. à Lose points on the hard stuffmidterms, finals, and papers. 8. Utilize your TAs for the hard stuff.à à Aà Teaching Assistants primary concern is the academic research he or she is pursuing as a Masters or Ph.D. student. à However, most of them are à open to help their students outside of discussion sections, as long as you are respectful of their time. à For ALL assigned essays, check your topic and thesis with the TA! à This guarantees that you will at least get a B- on the assignment. à As long as you are writing about something that is important, on topic, or interesting and you have an argument that is important, on topic, or interesting then your paper will be at least decent no matter what you write for your supporting details and commentary. à This requires intense periods of deep thinking, but ensures a good start. 9. Build relationships. à If you are worried about academic anonymity, make an effort to expose yourself to your professors. à Go to office hours, participate in class, and offer to volunteer in assisting with their research. à Professors at research universities were hired for one reason: to conduct experiments under the name of that institution. à Any help you give your professors is likely to be reciprocated, whether in the form of a good grade in that class or as a valuable reference down the road. 10. Be comfortable outside of class. à College can be stressful. à Its easy to get tied up in all of your homework and independence. à A healthy social life and saving some time to unwind with friends takes the load off and helps you acclamate to your new environment. à Working out and staying physically fit can increase your self-confidence and enhance your mood to keep you happy ðŸâ¢â
Monday, March 2, 2020
The 12 Best Books on Writing Ive Ever Read - Jerry Jenkins
The 12 Best Books on Writing Ive Ever Read - Jerry Jenkins The 12 Best Books on Writing Ive Ever Read Regardless how many books Iââ¬â¢ve written (nearly 200) and sold (over 70 million), I fear if Iââ¬â¢m not learning, Iââ¬â¢m stagnating. My late mother was a convincing example of one who never believed she had arrived. Mom was not only a piano teacher well into her eighties, but she was also a piano student. So itââ¬â¢s the memory of my mother that spurs me also to keep reading everything there is to read- especially about writing. The books below (in alpha order by author) represent a fraction of those available. You could read one perà day for the rest of your life and not exhaust the resources. But, in my opinion, these are the best books on writing available. Some require wearing your big kid pants due to language, which I have noted. 12 Books Every Aspiring Author Should Read 1. The Writing Life: Writers on How They Think and Work Byà Marie Arana This book came from ten years of Ms. Aranaââ¬â¢sà Washington Post Book Worldà column. More than fifty fiction and nonfiction authors share how they discovered they were writers and how they work. I was fascinated by what pleases and annoys them. Arana also profiles each writer. Click here to get the book. 2. Plot Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish By James Scott Bell (friend and colleague) Anything but a dry textbook, this breezy guide is from a former trial lawyer who keeps you entertained while covering basics like how plot impacts structure, the difference between popular and literary fiction, and how to serve as your own book doctor. Click here to get the book. 3. Getting into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn from Actors Byà Brandilyn Collins (friend and colleague) Calling on her theater training, Collins teaches bringing characters to life the way actors do on stage. She draws on the Method Acting approach to explain and adapt characterization techniques for novelists. Click here to get the book. 4. The Writing Life Byà Annie Dillard Dillardââ¬â¢s hauntingly ethereal prose soars even when sheââ¬â¢s writing about writing. Thatââ¬â¢s rare. I resonate with her honesty about how grueling the craft can be. This is one of the best books on writing available. Click here to get the book. 5. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft [language] By Stephen King (acquaintance) At the risk of hyperbole, thereââ¬â¢s so much to recommend here that I hardly know where to begin. Besides all the practical advice, you get Kingââ¬â¢s own rags-to-riches story in his inimitable voice. Youà learn a tonà while being wildly entertained. Click here to get the book. 6. How to Write Bestselling Fictionà [mild language] By Dean Koontz Iââ¬â¢m not overstating it that this book changed my life. It informed the way I wrote the Left Behind series, which has sold more than 60 million copies and still sells six figures every year, nearly a decade since the last title was released. I use this as a textbook when I teach writing. Click here to get the book. 7. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Lifeà [language] Byà Anne Lamott Lamott has you howling with laughter one minute and weeping the next as she recounts, with brutal honesty, the joys and travails of the writing life, single parenting, overcoming addiction, and coming to faith. Click here to get the book. 8. Writing the Breakout Novel: Insider Advice for Taking Your Fiction to the Next Level By Donald Maass An agent challenges you to do more than just spin a yarn, but to also think ââ¬Å"big concept,â⬠tackle major themes, and write life-changing works. Click here to get the book. 9. Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies By Sol Stein (acquaintance) Novelist, editor, publisher (Stein Day), and writing teacher, Stein is one of the deans of the American literary scene. His career spans decades, and he shares insider stories of famous novelists and their work, as well as everything he learned along the way. I sat under his teaching years ago and still follow his advice. Click here to get the book. 10. On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction By William Zinsser Zinsserââ¬â¢s backgroundà should not be missed. He was a graceful classicist as a writer, and this million-seller has been lauded for its warmth and clarity. Zinsser offers sound tips on the fundamentals of writing any kind of nonfiction you can think of. Click here to get the book. Now, donââ¬â¢t readà anyà of those books for writers, untilâ⬠¦ â⬠¦youââ¬â¢ve read the bible of writing books: 11. The Elements of Style Byà William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White Failing to start your reading on writing with anything other than this undisputed classic would be akin to reading the top ten Christian classics while ignoring the Bible. This short paperback is recommended by every writing teacher I know. Iââ¬â¢ve read it at least once a year for more than 40 years. Its simple truths cover everything from style and grammar and usage. Make them second nature. Click here to get the book. 12. Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One Never Lets Them Go By Les Edgerton Les is one of the most powerfully edgy writers in the business, and you must have your big kid pants on to read his novels. But any writer will benefit from this great resource. Packed with helpful, practical advice, it carries his blunt tone (but nothing offensive). I refer to it regularly. Click here to get the book. If youââ¬â¢ve read none of the other books on this list, start with Stephen Kingââ¬â¢sà On Writing. A short course in mistakes to avoid while writing, itââ¬â¢ll remind you why you wanted to be an author. Then, especially if you want to be a novelist, read Dean Koontzââ¬â¢sà How to Write Bestselling Fiction. You could learn more in just those two books than in an entire college writing course. BONUS:à Before investing in one of these, download my free guide:à How to Write a Book: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Steps.à à Click here to download How to Write a Book: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Steps. Whatââ¬â¢s your favorite book on the craft of writing? Share it with all of us in the comments sectionâ⬠¦
Saturday, February 15, 2020
(DEGREE LEVEL) INESTIGATING THE SOCIAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
(DEGREE LEVEL) INESTIGATING THE SOCIAL - Essay Example 26). The National Health Service (NHS) was created on 5 July 1948 (National Health Services). Aneurin Bevan, the Minister of Health in the 1940ââ¬â¢s, is seen as the architect of NHS (Gorsky 2008, p.437, 452). As mentioned above, the World War II bombings by Germany mobilized several interest groups and connected them. World War II served as a stressor, whose effects were made public by the Beveridge Report. However, the factor that did not let the effect of this event fade was Bevan. Thus, the aim of this research is to look at how the factors mentioned above influenced the interest groups in forming NHS. The Beveridge Report (Beveridge, 1942) is used to examine the ability of reports to shock their readers. This report was made with the purpose of evaluating the reconstruction needs which were caused by the 1940 bombings (Beveridge 1942, p. 5). Its advantage is that quantitative and objective data are presented. Observations were made in a natural environment. The report provides a background to the problem, indicating that reconstruction is only a part of the story and that more fundamental changes are required. However, its weakness is that as in case of every other report, this too has its own agenda. The government commissioned this report, so one could easily assume that it was in governmentââ¬â¢s best interest to present a gloomy picture of the existing system to the public. Another source is the interview with Bevan from 1949 (2009). Though this source offers a firsthand insight into the needs that led to NHS, this source is also subjective. Bevan is seen as the architect of NHS, implying that he possessed the ins and outs of development of the Act on NHS, its passing and creation of NHS. However, this interview is his personal view on events that happened in the 1940ââ¬â¢s. Since he was a politician, his statements were designed to win over the voters by giving them
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Seminal Works Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Seminal Works - Annotated Bibliography Example hysics has been one of the many philosophical fields which have been found interesting by the greatest of philosophies in the world over the past years. Having been able to develop for the longest time, it has been adopted in explaining very many things by man, and because of this it has been able to become a major field which has seen very many students behind it. While there are other fields and concepts of philosophy such as epistemology, the concept of metaphysics has been greatly considered as major concept which has a lot foundations in defining the qualities and existence of objects and beings, and because of that there have been other concepts which have been developed through itself, and a good example include expressionism and existentialism. ââ¬Å"Films are created and written with intentional meanings embedded in almost all aspects such as settings, sets, props, music and even title and props.â⬠These are used to persuade and pass a given message to the audience. Bound can be analyzed as a rhetorical artifact delivering the above qualities. Beginning with the title of the film ââ¬Ëboundââ¬â¢, the viewer understands the lesbianism between Violet and Corky. The settings and sets in the film also represent the intended themes of the film. For example, Corky and Violet meet and Violet requests her to help in retrieving an earring. The characters in the film have also helped pass a given message thereby persuading the audience. Following the originality of metaphysics, man wanted to understand the concepts and manner in which human existence was, and how he did relate with the other objects and things having physical bodies and which existence in the world. As well, the non-existence of objects and materials would also become something worth understanding, and thus the field would come up with more foundations aimed at underpinning the major thoughts and understanding of the ancient philosophers with their metaphysics and epistemology. In present days, there
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Unnecessary Censorship of Literature :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays
Unnecessary Censorship of Literature Article One of the Bill of Rights tells us ââ¬Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.â⬠A censor is defined as an official or government entity that removes or restricts books, plays, the news media, etc. in order to suppress information or ideas that are considered objectionable on moral, political, religious, military, or other grounds (1). Censored. Banned. Challenged. These three words have loomed large in the past decade. In 1999, the number of reported challenges against books declined to 472, down from 762 in 1995 (2). According to the American Library Associationââ¬â¢s site on the most frequently challenged books of the decade, ââ¬Å"topping the list is Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz, accused of ââ¬Å"being too scaryâ⬠and ââ¬Å"unsuited to age group,â⬠followed by Daddyââ¬â¢s Roommate by Michael Willhoite, accused of ââ¬Å"promoting homosexuality as a normal lifestyle.â⬠The rest of the 10 most frequently challenged books of the decade were I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (3), The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (4), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (5), Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (6), Forever by Judy Blume (7), Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (8), Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman (9) and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. S alinger (10).â⬠Books have been challenged and banned for a number of reasons including: objectionable, lurid, profane, vulgar, and obscene as in a case from Fairbanks, Alaska where the Bible was challenged but retained. The same happened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with reasons cited that it ââ¬Å"contains language and stories that are inappropriate for children of any age,â⬠including tales of incest and murder. ââ¬Å"There are more than three hundred examples of ââ¬Ëobscenitiesââ¬â¢ in the book.â⬠(3) Other well-known books that are frequently challenged include Mark Twainââ¬â¢s Huckleberry Finn, which uses the word ââ¬Ëniggerââ¬â¢ thirty-nine times in the first thirty-five pages of the book. Groups such as the NAACP have pushed for the removal of Huck Finn from required reading lists but say that they are not out to censor the book. The Pennsylvania chapter of the NAACP feels that the liberal use of such a derogatory word is detrimental to the self-esteem of young African-American children (4).
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Bloodlines Chapter Six
TO BE FAIR, THE DAY STARTED OFF GREAT. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows when we woke up, and I could already feel the heat even though it was early morning. I chose my lightest ensemble from the uniform selection: a gray skirt, paired with a short-sleeved white blouse. ââ¬Å"Simple jewelryâ⬠was allowed, so I kept the gold cross on. My hair was having one of its difficult days ââ¬â which seemed to be more often than not in this new climate. I wished I could pull it in a ponytail, like Jill did with hers, but it had too many layers to do that neatly. Eyeing where they hit my shoulders at different lengths, I wondered if maybe it was time to grow it out. After a breakfast neither of us really ate, we rode the shuttle bus up to Central Campus, which was suddenly packed with people. Only about a third of the students were boarders. The rest were locals, and they had all turned out today. Jill barely spoke throughout the entire ride and seemed to be sick again. It was hard to say, but I thought she looked paler than usual. Her eyes were bloodshot once more, heavy with dark circles. I'd woken up once in the night and seen her fast asleep, so I wasn't entirely sure what the problem was. Those dark circles were actually the first flaw I'd ever seen in any Moroi's skin ââ¬â it was always perfect, porcelain. No wonder she could usually sleep in late. She didn't have to bother with the powder and concealer I used. As the morning progressed, Jill kept biting her lip and looking worriedly around. Maybe she was just nervous about immersing herself in a world populated entirely with humans. She didn't seem at all concerned about the logistics of getting to the right rooms and completing work. That was the aspect that still scared me a little. Just get from one class to another, I told myself. That's all you have to do. My first class was ancient history. Eddie was in it too, and he practically ran me down when he saw me. ââ¬Å"Is she okay? Have you seen her?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, we share a room, so yeah.â⬠We sat down at neighboring desks. I smiled at Eddie. ââ¬Å"Relax. She's fine. She seemed nervous, but I can't really blame her.â⬠He nodded but still looked uncertain. He gave his full attention to the front of the room when the teacher stepped up, but there was a restlessness about Eddie as he sat there, like he could just barely stop himself from springing up to go check on Jill. ââ¬Å"Welcome, welcome.â⬠Our instructor was a forty-something woman with white-streaked, wiry black hair and enough nervous energy to rival Eddie ââ¬â and if her giant coffee cup was any indication, it wasn't hard to figure out why. I was also a little jealous and wished we were allowed to have beverages in class ââ¬â particularly since the dorm cafeteria didn't serve coffee. I didn't know how I was going to survive the next few months with caffeine-free days. Her wardrobe favored argyle. ââ¬Å"I am Ms. Terwilliger, your illustrious guide on the wondrous journey that is ancient history.â⬠She spoke in a sweeping, grandiose voice that made a few of my classmates break into snickers. She gestured to a young man who'd been sitting behind her, near the large desk. He'd been watching the class with a bored expression, but when she turned to him, he perked up. ââ¬Å"And this is my co-guide, Trey, whom I believe some of you may know. Trey is my student aide for this pe riod, so he'll mostly be skulking in corners and filing papers. But you should be nice to him since he may very well be the one entering your grades into my computer.â⬠Trey gave a small wave and grinned at some of his friends. He had deeply tanned skin and black hair whose length flirted with the dress code's rules. The neatly pressed Amberwood uniform gave him the illusion of all business, but there was a mischievous glint in his dark eyes that made me think he didn't really take being an aide seriously. ââ¬Å"Now,â⬠continued Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"History is important because it teaches us about the past. And by learning about the past, you come to understand the present, so that you may make educated decisions about the future.â⬠She paused dramatically to let those words sink in. Once she was convinced we were awed, she moved over to a laptop that was wired up to a projector. She pushed a few keys, and an image of a white-pillared building appeared on the screen at the front of the room. ââ¬Å"Now, then. Can anyone tell me what this is?â⬠ââ¬Å"A temple?â⬠someone called out. ââ¬Å"Very good, Mr. ââ¬â ?â⬠ââ¬Å"Robinson,â⬠the boy supplied. Ms. Terwilliger produced a clipboard and scanned a list. ââ¬Å"Ah, there you are. Robinson. Stephanie.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stephan,â⬠corrected the boy, flushing as some of his friends giggled. Ms. Terwilliger pushed her glasses up her nose and squinted. ââ¬Å"So you are. Thank goodness. I was just thinking how difficult your life must be with such a name. My apologies. I broke my glasses in a freak croquet accident this weekend, forcing me to bring my old ones today. So, Stephan-not-Stephanie, you're correct. It's a temple. Can you be more specific?â⬠Stephan shook his head. ââ¬Å"Can anyone else offer any insight?â⬠When only silence met Ms. Terwilliger, I took a deep breath and raised my hand. Time to see what it was like to be a real student. She nodded toward me. ââ¬Å"It's the Parthenon, ma'am.â⬠ââ¬Å"Indeed it is,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"And your name is?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sydney.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sydneyâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She checked the clipboard and looked up in astonishment. ââ¬Å"Sydney Melbourne? My goodness. You don't sound Australian.â⬠ââ¬Å"Er, it's Sydney Melrose, ma'am,â⬠I corrected. Ms. Terwilliger scowled and handed the clipboard to Trey, who seemed to think my name was the funniest thing ever. ââ¬Å"You take over, Mr. Juarez. Your youthful eyes are better than mine. If I keep at this, I'll keep turning boys into girls and perfectly nice young ladies into the descendants of criminals. So.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger focused back on me. ââ¬Å"The Parthenon. Do you know anything about it?â⬠The others were watching me, mostly with friendly curiosity, but I still felt the pressure of being the center of attention. Focusing solely on Ms. Terwilliger, I said, ââ¬Å"It's part of the Acropolis, ma'am. In Athens. It was built in the fifth century BC.â⬠ââ¬Å"No need to call me ââ¬Ëma'am,'â⬠Ms. Terwilliger told me. ââ¬Å"Though it is refreshing to get a bit of respect for a change. And brilliantly answered.â⬠She glanced over the rest of the room. ââ¬Å"Now, tell me this. Why on earth should we care about Athens or anything that took place over fifteen hundred years ago? How can that be relevant to us today?â⬠More silence and shifting eyes. When the unbearable quiet dragged on for what felt like hours, I started to raise my hand again. Ms. Terwilliger didn't notice and glanced back at Trey, who was resting his feet on the teacher's desk. The boy instantly dropped his legs and straightened up. ââ¬Å"Mr. Juarez,â⬠declared Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"Time to earn your keep. You took this class last year. Can you tell them why the events of ancient Athens are relevant to us today? If you don't, then I'm going to have to call on Miss Melbourne again. She looks like she knows the answer, and think how embarrassing that will be for you.â⬠Trey's eyes flicked to me and then back to the teacher. ââ¬Å"Her name is Melrose, not Melbourne. And democracy was founded in Athens in the sixth century. A lot of the procedures they set into place are still in effect with our government today.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger clasped her hand over her heart dramatically. ââ¬Å"You were paying attention last year! Well, almost. Your date is off.â⬠Her gaze fell on me. ââ¬Å"I bet you know the date democracy was started in Athens.â⬠ââ¬Å"The fifth century,â⬠I answered immediately. That earned me a smile from the teacher and a glare from Trey. The rest of the class proceeded in much the same way. Ms. Terwilliger continued on with her flamboyant style and highlighted a number of important times and places that we were going to study in more detail. I found I could answer any question she asked. Some part of me said I should ration myself, but I couldn't help it. If no one knew the answer, I felt compelled to provide it. And each time I did, Ms. Terwilliger would say, ââ¬Å"Trey, did you know that?â⬠I winced. I really didn't want to make enemies on my first day. The other students watched me curiously when I spoke, which made me a little self-conscious. I also saw a few of them exchange knowing looks each time I answered, as though they were in on some secret I wasn't. That concerned me more than irritating Trey did. Did it sound like I was showing off? I was too unsure of the social politics here to understand what was normal and what wasn't. This was an academically competitive school. Surely it wasn't a bad thing to be educated? Ms. Terwilliger left us with an assignment to read the first two chapters of our textbook. The others groaned, but I was excited. I loved history, specifically the history of art and architecture. My homeschooling had been aggressive and well rounded, but that particular subject wasn't one my father had thought we needed to spend a lot of time on. I'd had to study it on my own time, and it was both startling and luxurious to think I now had a class whose sole purpose was to learn about this and that my knowledge would be valued ââ¬â by the teacher, at least. I parted ways with Eddie after that and went off to AP Chemistry. While I was waiting for class to start, Trey slid into a desk beside me. ââ¬Å"So, Miss Melbourne,â⬠he said, imitating Ms. Terwilliger's voice. ââ¬Å"When will you be starting up your own history class?â⬠I was sorry Ms. Terwilliger had picked on him, but I didn't like his tone. ââ¬Å"Are you actually taking this class? Or are you going to lounge around some more and pretend to be helping the teacher?â⬠This brought a grin to his face. ââ¬Å"Oh, I'm in this one, unfortunately. And I was Ms. T's best student last year. If you're as good at chemistry as you are in history, then I'm nabbing you for a lab partner. I'll be able to take the whole semester off.â⬠Chemistry was a crucial part of the Alchemists' trade, and I doubted there was anything in this class I didn't already know. The Alchemists had arisen in the Middle Ages as ââ¬Å"magical scientistsâ⬠trying to turn lead into gold. From those early experiments, they'd gone on to discover the special properties of vampire blood and how it reacted with other substances, eventually branching out into the crusade to keep vampires and humans separate from one another. That earlier scientific background, and our current work with vampire blood, made chemistry one of the main subjects of my childhood education. I'd received my first chemistry set when I was six. When other kids were practicing the alphabet, my father was grilling me with acid and base flash cards. Unable to admit as much to Trey, I averted my eyes and casually brushed hair from my face. ââ¬Å"I'm okay in it.â⬠His gaze moved to my cheek, and a look of understanding came over him. ââ¬Å"Ah. So that's it.â⬠ââ¬Å"What's it?â⬠I asked. He pointed to my face. ââ¬Å"Your tattoo. That's what it does, huh?â⬠In moving my hair, I'd revealed the gold lily. ââ¬Å"What do you mean?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"You don't have to play coy with me,â⬠he said, rolling his dark eyes. ââ¬Å"I get it. I mean, it seems like cheating to me, but I guess not everyone cares about honor. Pretty ballsy to have it on your face, though. They're against the dress code, you know ââ¬â not that that stops anyone.â⬠I shifted and let my hair fall back into place. ââ¬Å"I know. I meant to put makeup on it and forgot. But what do you mean about cheating?â⬠He simply shook his head in a way that clearly said I'd been dismissed. I sat there feeling helpless, wondering what I'd done wrong. Soon, my confusion was replaced by dismay as our instructor gave us an introduction to the class and its setup. I had a chemistry set back in my room that was more extensive than Amberwood's. Oh well. I supposed a little elementary review wouldn't hurt me. My other classes progressed in a similar way. I was on top of all my subjects and found myself answering every question. This got me in good with my teachers, but I couldn't gauge the rest of my classmates' reactions. I still saw a lot of rueful head shakes and intrigued expressions ââ¬â but only Trey actually condemned. I didn't know if I should hold back or not. I ran into Kristin and Julia a couple of times, and they reminded me to join them for lunch. I did, finding them sitting in a corner table in East's cafeteria. They waved me over, and as I wove through the rows of tables, I did a quick scan, hoping to see Jill. I hadn't run into her all day, but that wasn't too shocking, considering our schedules. Presumably, she was eating over at the other cafeteria, maybe with Eddie or Micah. Kristin and Julia were friendly, chatting me up about how my first day had gone and imparting wisdom about certain teachers they'd had before. They were seniors like me, and we shared a couple classes. We spent most of lunch exchanging basic info, like where we were all from. It wasn't until lunch was winding down that I began to get answers to some of the questions that had been bugging me all day. Although it required wading through still more questions first. ââ¬Å"So,â⬠said Kristin, leaning across the table. ââ¬Å"Does it just give you a super memory? Or does it like, I don't know, actually change your brain and make you smarter?â⬠Julia rolled her eyes. ââ¬Å"It can't make you smarter. It's gotta be memory. What I want to know is, how long does it last?â⬠I glanced back and forth between them, more confused than ever. ââ¬Å"Whatever you're talking about can't be making me smarter, because I'm so lost right now.â⬠Kristin laughed at that. ââ¬Å"Your tattoo. I heard you answering all the hardest questions in math. And a friend of mine is in your history class and said you were dominating there too. We're trying to figure out how the tattoo helps you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Helps meâ⬠¦ answer questions?â⬠I asked. Their faces confirmed as much. ââ¬Å"It doesn't. That stuffâ⬠¦ that's just, well, me. I just know the answers.â⬠ââ¬Å"No one's that smart,â⬠argued Julia. ââ¬Å"It's not that crazy. I'm no genius. I guess I've just learned a lot. I was homeschooled part of the time, and my dad was reallyâ⬠¦ strict,â⬠I added, thinking that might help. ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠said Kristin, toying with a long braid. I'd noticed she wore her dark hair in very practical ways while blond Julia's was always teased and tousled. ââ¬Å"I guess that could be itâ⬠¦ but then, what does your tattoo do?â⬠ââ¬Å"It doesn't do anything,â⬠I said. Yet even as I spoke the words, I felt a slight tingle in my flesh. The tattoo had a kind of magic in it that stopped me from speaking about anything Alchemist-related to those who weren't part of the inner circle. This was the tattoo stopping me from saying too much, not that there was any need. ââ¬Å"I just thought it was cool.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠said Julia. Both girls looked inexplicably disappointed. ââ¬Å"Why on earth would you think the tattoo is making me smart?â⬠I asked. The warning bell interrupted further conversation, reminding us all it was time to get to our next class. There was a pause as Kristin and Julia considered something. Kristin seemed to be the leader of the two because she was the one who gave a decisive nod. I had the distinct feeling I was being assessed. ââ¬Å"Okay,â⬠she said finally, giving me a big smile. ââ¬Å"We'll fill you in more on everything later.â⬠We set up a time to hang out and study later, then parted ways. My impression was that more socialization than studying would go on, which was fine with me, but I made a mental note to get my homework done first. The rest of the day went quickly, and I received a note in one class from Molly the advisor. As expected, I'd passed out of all of my language courses, and she wanted me to come by and discuss matters during the last period, when I technically had no class. This meant that my school day would officially wrap up with PE. I changed into my assigned gym clothes, shorts and an Amberwood T-shirt, and trekked outside into the hot sun with the others. I'd felt a little of the heat ducking between classes today, but it wasn't until I actually had to stand outside for any length of time that I really and truly appreciated the fact that we were out in the desert. Glancing around at my classmates, who were guys and girls of all grades, I saw that I wasn't the only one sweating. I rarely burned but reminded myself to pick up sunscreen to be safe. Jill would need it too. Jill! I peered around. I'd nearly forgotten that Jill was supposed to be in the same class. Except, where was she? There was no sign of her. When our instructor, Miss Carson, called attendance, she didn't even say Jill's name. I wondered if there'd been a last-minute schedule change. Miss Carson believed in jumping right into the action. We were divided into teams for volleyball, and I found myself standing beside Micah. His fair, freckled complexion was growing pink, and I almost wanted to suggest sunscreen to him as well. He gave me one of his friendly smiles. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"You haven't seen my sister today, have you? Jill?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠he said. A slight frown crossed his forehead. ââ¬Å"Eddie was looking for her at lunch. He figured she was eating with you over at your dorm.â⬠I shook my head, a queasy feeling welling in my stomach. What was going on? Nightmare scenarios flashed through my mind. I'd thought Eddie was overreacting with his vigilance, but had something happened to Jill? Was it possible that, despite all our planning, one of Jill's enemies had slipped in and stolen her out from under us? Was I going to have to tell the Alchemists ââ¬â and my father ââ¬â that we'd lost Jill on the first day? Panic flashed through me. If I wasn't about to be sent to a re-education center before, I definitely was on my way to one now. ââ¬Å"Are you okay?â⬠Micah asked, studying me. ââ¬Å"Is Jill okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Excuse me.â⬠I broke out of my team formation and jogged over to where Miss Carson was supervising. ââ¬Å"Yes?â⬠she asked me. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, but I'm worried about my sister. Jill Melrose. I'm Sydney. She's supposed to be in here. Do you know if she changed classes?â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah, yes. Melrose. I got a note from the office, just before class, that she wouldn't be attending today.â⬠ââ¬Å"Did they say why?â⬠Miss Carson shook her head apologetically and barked an order to some guy who was slacking off. I rejoined my team, mind spinning. Well, at least someone had seen Jill today, but why on earth would she not be attending? ââ¬Å"Is she okay?â⬠Micah asked me. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦ I guess. Miss Carson seemed to know she wouldn't be in class but doesn't know why.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is there anything I can do?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"To help her? Er, you guys?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, thanks. That's nice of you to ask.â⬠I wished there was a clock around. ââ¬Å"I'll check on her as soon as class is over.â⬠A thought suddenly occurred to me. ââ¬Å"But Micah? Don't say anything to Eddie.â⬠Micah gave me a curious look. ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠ââ¬Å"He's overprotective. He'll worry when it's probably nothing.â⬠Also, he'll tear the school apart looking for her. When class ended, I quickly showered and changed clothes before heading to the administrative building. I was desperate to run back to the dorm first to see if Jill was there, but I couldn't be late for the appointment. As I walked down a hallway to Molly's office, I passed by the main one ââ¬â and an idea came to me. I stopped in to talk to the attendance secretary before going to my appointment. ââ¬Å"Jill Melrose,â⬠the secretary said, nodding. ââ¬Å"She was sent back to her dorm.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sent back?â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"What does that mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not at liberty to say.â⬠Melodramatic much? Annoyed and more confused than ever, I went to Molly's office, taking comfort in the fact that even if Jill's absence was mysterious, at least it was sanctioned by the school. Molly told me I could either take another elective or engage in some kind of independent study in place of a language, if I got a teacher to sponsor me. An idea popped into my head. ââ¬Å"Can I check in with you tomorrow?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"I need to talk to someone first.â⬠ââ¬Å"Sure,â⬠said Molly. ââ¬Å"Just decide soon. You can go back to your dorm now, but we can't have you wandering around every day during this time.â⬠I assured her she'd have an answer soon and headed back. The shuttle bus didn't run very often during classes, so I just walked the mile back. It only took fifteen minutes but felt twice as long in the heat. When I finally reached the dorm room, relief flooded me. Hanging out in our room as if nothing strange had happened was Jill. ââ¬Å"You're all right!â⬠Jill was lying on the bed, reading her book again. She looked up morosely. ââ¬Å"Yeah. Kind of.â⬠I sat down on my own bed and kicked off my shoes. ââ¬Å"What happened? I had a panic attack when you weren't in class. If Eddie knew ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Jill sat bolt upright. ââ¬Å"No, don't tell Eddie. He'll freak out.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay, okay. But tell me what happened. They said you got sent here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠Jill made a face. ââ¬Å"Because I was kicked out of my first class.â⬠I was speechless. I couldn't imagine what sweet, shy Jill could have possibly done to warrant that. Oh, God. I hope she didn't bite someone. I was the one everyone expected to have trouble fitting into a school schedule. Jill should have been a pro. ââ¬Å"What were you kicked out for?â⬠Jill sighed. ââ¬Å"For having a hangover.â⬠More speechlessness. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠ââ¬Å"I was sick. Ms. Chang ââ¬â my teacher ââ¬â took one look at me and said she could spot a hangover a mile away. She sent me to the office for breaking school rules. I told them I was just sick, but she kept saying she knew. The principal finally said there was no way to prove that's why I was sick, so I didn't get punished, but I wasn't allowed to go to the rest of my classes. I had to stay here for the rest of the school day.â⬠ââ¬Å"That'sâ⬠¦ that's idiotic!â⬠I shot to my feet and began pacing. Now that I'd recovered from my initial disbelief, I was simply outraged. ââ¬Å"I was with you last night. You slept here. I should know. I woke up once, and you were out cold. How can Ms. Chang even make an accusation like that? She had no proof! The school didn't either. They had no right to send you out of class. I should go to the office right now! No, I'm going to talk to Keith and the Alchemists and have our ââ¬Ëparents' file a complaint.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, wait, Sydney.â⬠Jill jumped up and caught ahold of my arm, as though afraid I would march out then and there. ââ¬Å"Please. Don't. Just let it go. I don't want to cause any more trouble. I didn't get any bad marks. I wasn't really punished.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're behind in your classes,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"That's punishment enough.â⬠Jill shook her head, eyes wide. She was afraid, I realized, but I had no idea why she wouldn't want me to tell. She was the victim here. ââ¬Å"No, it's fine. I'll catch up. There are no long-term consequences. Please don't make a big deal out of this. The other teachers probably just thought I was sick. They probably don't even know about the accusations.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not right, though,â⬠I growled. ââ¬Å"I can do something about it. It's what I'm here for, to help you.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Jill adamantly. ââ¬Å"Please. Let it go. If you really want to helpâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She averted her eyes. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠I asked, still filled with righteous fury. ââ¬Å"What do you need? Name it.â⬠Jill looked back up. ââ¬Å"I need youâ⬠¦ I need you to take me to Adrian.ââ¬
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